Foldable stool



' Dec; 13, 1927. 1,652,922

A. P. AHLES FOLDABLE STOOL,

Filed Nov. 24. 1925 Patented Dec. 13,

' cairas'ra anniinrrnrnnnnrnsor v I I DIE co, or Bonn, i'invv YORK.

T j Q ROME, EWYORK, assIG'NonTo roar ladder of the fold-able type. v

' ronnnnnn strooL;

Application filed November 24,, 1926.- Serial n6: 5150313.:

The invention relates to astool and more especially to the class offoldable step-lad der stools or acombination stool and step- Th'eprincrary object of the invention is the provision of an article of thischaracter, wherein the construction thereof enables the stool to beutilized as a step-ladder, the'steps being, supported in swingingrelation to the stool, so that when not in use the samewill be concealedwithin the stool, the ladder and the steps being constructed from metalto give rigidity and strength. to the article, so

that it may withstand severe usage.

7 Another object of the invention is theprovision of I an article ofthis character, wherel in the steps are foldably connected with the,

stool, in a manner, that when the steps are swung outwardly from withinthe stool they will be materially braced to sustain the same rigid foruse and when not in use can be confined or concealed within the stool,the article being of novel form. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of an article of thischaracter,-

which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable andeiiicient in itspurposes, strong, durable, neat and attractive inportable and inexpensive invention consists in the features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, as willbehereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended;

In the accompanying drawing:

i Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on line 11 of'Figure2 through the article, constructed in accordance with the invention,showing by full lines the steps extended for use and by dotted lines thesame concealed within the stool. Y

Figure 2 is a frontelevation of the stool with the steps in position foruse. 7

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral 1 views in the drawing, I

Referring to the drawing in detail, A

- designates generally the stool and B the steps of the combinationarticle constituting the subject matter of the present invention. Thestool A comprises corner legs 5, these being four in number, arranged inpairs and braces 9 provides aseat for *e-ach preferably -ma'deifromthough the. same may be made fromany other suitable materiah Y of: the?required length to give the desired height to the'stool. The legs 5converge upwardlyand support at their top ends aseat sectionh preferably7 made from sheet vmetalhaving: 'a in1argihal depending flangeToontinuous aird unl irolnerliv at the "corners thereof.Passed'thrcughfthe flange 57 are rivets :or fasteners 8',- whichflsecure the legs 5 to the seat has will betel-early apparent froniFi'guresl' and 2 of thedraw i 1ng' 7 V; v 51 Crossbraces are employedfor legs: :ri-gid. The ;-=cross' braces are arranged 111- pairs, one:pairfi pos tion-ed "aboverjthe f other pair. The cross braces of onepair in dicated at 9, connect the'legs of one pair of legs to the legsof the other pair of legs.

The other pair of cross braces 'arefindicated at -l0 and each isprovided for connecting the .'legs of a pair of legs together. Thecross;

sides of the legs. The cross braces 9 arepositioned against the outeredgesof;theilegs and above the braces 10. Oneof the cross be presentlyreferred to.

braces 10 are positioned against the inner t e P s The steps B comprisecompanion side plates 11 having mounted thereon'thestep sections 12, theplates 11' being cut into to provide the risers for the step sections12. The-plates 11 and the step sections 12 are preferably made frommetal, although the samemay be made from any other suitable material,and are united to each other to constitute a unitary structure. g I

Swingingly connected to 10 of the stool ,A clos'erto the rear ends ofsaid braces are opposed swinging links 13,

the side braces A these being also pivoted at 14 to the plates 11 neartheir rear edges; The links .13 are I of sufl'icient length to bring thesteps-.B to. l

the position from full lines in Figure l of the drawing to thepositionof the dottedlines',

wherebythe top step sect-ionv12 will abut the r fiangeY-of the seat 6 atthe rear stretchof said flange 7-, whereby the steps B. will beconcealed or confined within the stool-A as will be clearly obvious.

the cross front brace 9 when the stepshave 4 The rear edges of theplatesfll of thej steps B at a determined pointare formed v with cutoutportions ornotches l5to constitute' shoulders forseating on or abutting1 ill) * been moved outwardly of the stool'A or to 1 the full lineposition shown in Figure'l and in this manner thelinks 1 3 and the frontcross brace 9 will rigidly support the, steps Bin extendedpositionrelative tothe'stool A,"

The lower portions of the plates 11' con I qstitute feet 16 for thesteps B when the latter are extended or swung outwardly relative tothestool A as will be noted. a

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction-and manner of useof'the article- I hereinbefore described will be clearly understood andtherefore a more extended 1 planationhas been omitted.

lower cross braces connecting said legs to-' gether, a step sectionmovable withinz and without the space between said legs and hav- 1 .ingeach side thereot provided with a shoulqder forseating on one of theupper cross braces when the step section is extended, pivotlinksswmglngly connected to the lower.

I cross braces and pivotally connected to the sides of the step sectionand projecting over feet extensions on the sides of the step secacterdescribed, comprising a seat provided with a dependingv marginal flange,spaced legs for supporting said seat and secured to said flange, upperandlower cross braces said cr'oss'brace associated with said shoulderswhen the step section is extended, and. v

tion for supporting the latter when extended.

2. An article of manufacture of the charconnecting said legs together, astep section movable within and Without thespace between said legs andhaving each side there'- of formed with a shoulder for seating on one.of said upper cross braces when the step sec-t tion is extended, pivotlinks swingingly connected to the lower cross braces and pivotal-V lyconnected to the sides of thestep section,

and feet extensions on the sides of the step section for supporting itwhen extended, said step section when in non-extended position abuttingsaid marginal flange. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.1 v

' ALBERT P. AHLES.

